Paul Starrett Sample, ‘Grey Boats’

Paul Starrett Sample (American, 1896 – 1974) oil on canvas. Likely depicting San Pedro, California, a well-known subject of his works. Signature in the lower left corner. The verso states the artist and the title.

Dimensions: sight size- 29 1/2 inches tall X 39 3/4 inches wide; 74.9 cm tall X 101 cm wide, frame- 37 inches tall X 46 3/4 inches wide; 94 cm tall X 118.7 cm wide. All measurements are approximate.

Condition: Wax or sealer spots on surface of canvas.

Provenance: From a collection in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; purchased from Capricorn Galleries, Bethesda, Maryland in 1977. Artist Biography: Paul Starrett Sample (1896-1974) began his artistic career after graduating with a degree in architecture from Dartmouth. His paintings were influenced by both Social Realism and American Regionalism, although the former increasingly dominated his works following the Great Depression. From 1926-1938, he served on the faculty for architecture at the University of Southern California; thereupon he accepted a position as Artist in Residence at Dartmouth University, which he held until 1962. In his later career, he fulfilled multiple public art commissions, including a mural for the Environmental Protection Agency titled ‘Montana Horses in High Country,’ completed shortly before his death. Auction Reference: A similar painting was sold at Dallas Auction Gallery in 2013 for $40,625.00 including buyer’s premium.